PhotoChitect

Lebaran Escape

Finally the plan was executed. The route was Bandung - Bekasi - Jakarta - Bali - Lombok - Jakarta - Bandung. I was mentally ready for going on solo. One day before, one of my close friends Bella said that she’d also go to Bali 2 days after me and we planned to meet each other there. Okay, I got more friends. And just a few hours before leaving, another old friend from univ greeted me on facebook. He also lives in Bali. So bla bla bla and “let’s meet up”. And bye bye loneliness. I guessed that would be cool.

Day 1. Moving from Bandung to Bekasi. I stopped by at my cousins’ place for lazing down and just simply visiting. After dinner, Ejin and I had a night ride to Jakarta which was so lovely that time. No crowd since it was 2 days before lebaran. Like having nothing to do, we just sat around Monas and stared at that monument in between a feeling of proud and so and so. Nationalism? It’s complicated.

Day 2. We were like three starving people in the house. Without a mother, the house, er.. the dining table, looked so empty. We ate just some instant cereals and frozen burger. Dessert? Washed it away with Dito’s vodka mix. Haha. Hoped to get sleepy during flight and be able to sleep for awhile. Too bad, it didn’t work. After Dito drove me to the airport, I felt as fresh as a cold water, but as starving as a victim of famine. I ate expensively at the airport and soon after the arrival, I still got hungry again. Acong got me up at the airport and took us to a food place. The torture is over. It’s night already and I didn’t feel like going anywhere afterward. Went straight to his place and snored.

Day 3. We met Bonam at his hotel and had yummy breakfast there. Bacon and a nice conversation with some old friends, they’re a good pair :D Next, Ubud. And this was like a cafe-hopping day. We were just moving from cafe to cafe for the view, ambience, design, and of course not to miss the sunset back in Legian. I got a colorful moment, literally. It was so rare to capture that many colors on my camera.

Day 4. We took more time in the morning for Upin and Ipin show. Anyways, I didn’t want to rush, and we finally left the house around 11 for a meal. I thought it was for breakfast, but it was lunch for Acong. So after some beaches hunt to Padang-Padang, Suluban, and Greenbowl, I said to him about having ‘late lunch’, but he said that we had had it. Oh boy, that’s the end of my reputation. I am the lady and I am the big eater, hohoho. At night, we met our friend Bella and her friends who apparently got to hit Bali almost at the same time. We dined out and later I stayed with them at their hotel while Acong had another event. Slightly after midnight, he took me back to his place again. Bali’s almost done.

Day 5. Early morning, with his zombie face but kind heart (he’s not really awake), Acong took me to Bella’s hotel where she had already been waiting for me. It was just a transit for a travel pick up to Lombok. So say goodbye to sweet and convenient Bali and welcome to the adventurous Lombok. After some travel transfers including more than 4hrs sun-tanning on ferry, I could meet Ika, my friend’s friend who soon after became my friend too. I was starving so Ika took me to a warung for ayam taliwang. At night, we had another Lombok’s fried chicken and washed it up with some drinks at Happy cafe, Senggigi.

Day 6. A real adventure. No one suggested me go to this area, but we insisted. Using Ika’s scooter, we went exploring the southern area of Lombok. At the beginning it was okay and I thought we were cool ladies, but later the road was not a road. It’s off-road, sandy, steep, and terribly bad, and we fell down twice. Bleed, limp, and wounded, but we’re still going. The more virgin beaches we found, I knew it wouldn’t reduce how painful the wounds were, but at least, all were paid off. No regrets and still happy :)

Day 7. I didn’t cancel my trip to Gili Trawangan even though it meant I had to go alone together with the red opened wounds. Not a big deal, I thought. But yes it was. I had to protect my knees from any contact, and anyways, sea water feels hurt for wounds! So after I got into the island, I just walked around, sit, stay, and take some pics. I met some strangers here. Some became short term travel fellows, but there’s one who ended up becoming a dangerous creature for woman traveling alone. Yeah, there’s a risk for that. But thank God I was okay, and I didn’t miss the sunset. I got many gorgeous shots too. So, I didn’t miss any cool thing that I planned. And that’s good.

Day 8. I went back to Mataram and had lunch with Ika in the Mall across her office. After that, her office’s security guy gave me a ride home so I could take a rest. Just before midnight, she showed up into my (given) bedroom with some Tuak, a traditional drink. It was a strong shot! I could get up right away, but after some more sips, I could be drawn into bed, deeply. Cool ending for the last night!

Day 9. I flew back to Jakarta at noon, but the journey was not finished yet that soon. Right after Jakarta, I booked a travel ticket to Bandung. I arrived around 6 PM and after that I accompanied Dian, my friend at workplace, to meet her courchsurfing guest. I agreed, so from Jakarta, I went directly to Tree House in Bandung, the place for our meet up. At the end, I went home just before midnight because I had to wait for my brother’s activity before I could go home. I realized, I was just using the whooolle holidays for traveling. Didn’t miss any day :D

Day XX. A couple of fays after traveling, I’m having a post travel syndrome. So as what’s suggested, I made another plan. I’ve been thinking about Europe for years and yesterday I bought a travel book about Athene and Santorini. Oh boy, that’s Greece. It was like a daydream, because even if I had the money and so, but when…?? So….we’ll see later and later.. but it will be happening on one other day.

Let’s go photo hunting here! Anyone? =P